Get Inspired: Philanthropy Stories
Applegreen - Bands for Barretstown: A Partnership Creating Real Impact
Applegreen’s partnership with Barretstown mobilises employees and communities through creative fundraising to support therapeutic programmes for children with serious illness, combining corporate engagement with meaningful, measurable social impact for families across Ireland.
Business to Arts - How a Cross-Sector Partnership is Advancing Inclusion through the Arts
Business to Arts connects corporate and cultural sectors to deliver inclusive arts programmes, supporting vulnerable communities through creative initiatives while providing funders with a trusted intermediary model that strengthens impact, accountability and cross-sector collaboration.
Clann Credo - Financing Community-Led Social Impact
Clann Credo provides social finance and advice to community groups, charities and social enterprises. Its long-term, relationship-based lending targets disadvantaged areas and enables locally led projects, illustrated by the expansion of Corcaghan Childcare in Monaghan.
Climate Action, Community Wealth, and the Opportunity for Transformative Philanthropy
Across Ireland, communities are already feeling the effects of the climate crisis, but the benefits of the green transition often remain out of reach. While some sectors profit from decarbonisation, many households…
Community Finance Ireland - Enabling Sustainable Growth Through Community Finance
Community Finance Ireland provides tailored social finance to charities, community organisations and social enterprises. Its bridging loan to GIY unlocked matched funding, supported organisational growth and illustrated the continuing need for flexible finance where traditional lending falls short.
Community Foundation Ireland - A Philanthropic Response to Gender-Based Violence
Community Foundation Ireland works with frontline partners to address domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, combining funding, research and advocacy to support survivors, influence policy and drive systemic change...
How Philanthropy is Helping Sightsavers Ireland Deliver Lasting Impact Through Eye Health
In a world shaped by growing inequality, climate change, and fragile health systems, the need for effective, scalable health interventions has never been greater. Eye health stands out as one of the most powerful...
Katharine Howard Foundation - The Children’s Promise: Collaborative Funding for Early Years Impact
Katharine Howard Foundation focuses on improving outcomes for young children and families. Its Children’s Promise programme, delivered with Community Foundation Ireland, supports early intervention in disadvantaged communities and highlights the benefits and practical challenges of collaborative grantmaking.
Medtronic Foundation - Driving Impact Through Strategic Financing and Partnerships
Medtronic Foundation’s Irish STEM equity partnerships support underserved and underrepresented young people through Kinia, Midlands Science and SciFest. The programme expands access to STEAM learning, strengthens educators and aims to improve progression into further study and careers.
Mount Street Club Trust - Hope & Ambition: Trust-Based Philanthropy in Practice
Mount Street Club Trust’s Hope & Ambition initiative applies trust-based philanthropy through flexible, long-term funding and peer learning. It strengthens organisations serving marginalised groups, supports collaboration and capacity-building, and challenges traditional funder-grantee power dynamics.
New Report: Women & Philanthropy in Ireland: From Hidden Presence to Recognised Influence
Women & Philanthropy in Ireland: From Hidden Presence to Recognised Influence is a new landmark study that presents the first in‑depth qualitative exploration of giving by women to Ireland. I was part of a research...
OKC - The Transformative Power of Philanthropy in the Arts: OKC’s Delivery of the RAISE Programme
OKC’s RAISE programme strengthens arts organisations by building fundraising capacity, board engagement and internal resources. Since 2018, it has supported more than 120 organisations and helped secure over €20 million in cash and €5 million in-kind support.
OKC and Vodafone Foundation in Ireland - Driving Impact Through Long-Term Partnership
A long-term partnership between OKC and Vodafone Foundation using research, data and evaluation to strengthen Hi Digital, supporting older adults to build digital skills, reduce isolation and deliver measurable, scalable...
Oakfield Trust - Supporting Social Enterprise Through Open Grant Funding
Oakfield Trust supports social enterprises through property solutions, grants and sector development. Its first national open grant round awarded €45,500 to eleven organisations, funding work across housing, health, creative industries, climate and the circular economy.
Philanthropy Ireland Magazine Issue 1
Philanthropy Ireland’s Magazine Issue One introduces the themes Innovate, Collaborate, Activate, showcasing a sector evolving through partnership and new approaches to impact. It features stories such as the 5Ten Trust and explores the shift toward more strategic, relationship-driven giving.
Philanthropy Ireland Magazine Issue 2
Philanthropy Ireland’s Magazine Issue Two explores key developments shaping the sector, including charity law reform, governance and strategic giving. It highlights the role of professional advisers and the growing importance of collaboration and long-term, trust-based philanthropy.
Small Foundation - Catalysing Rural Enterprise in Africa
Small Foundation supports rural enterprise development in sub-Saharan Africa through grants, debt and equity. Its Emerald Africa Financing Facility backs early-stage agricultural technology companies, helping underserved businesses access credit, strengthen market links and improve farmer incomes.
Smurfit Westrock - Charitable Foundation Social Impact 2012–2023
Smurfit Westrock’s Charitable Foundation reports €15.1 million invested across 260 projects in 30 countries, with 2023 contributions of €2.8 million. Funding focused on health, basic care and education, alongside community, cultural, humanitarian and child-support initiatives.
Social Finance Foundation - Social Finance: Investing for Social and Financial Return
Social Finance Foundation promotes investment that delivers both social and financial returns. Working through community lenders, it provides accessible loan finance, supports higher-risk projects and demonstrates how philanthropy can unlock capital, innovation and measurable impact.
The Rowan Trust - Trust-Based Philanthropy Through Arts and Storytelling
The Rowan Trust uses trust-based philanthropy to support marginalised communities, partnering with Skein Press to expand underrepresented voices in literature through flexible core and project funding, collaborative relationships and shared learning focused on social justice.
